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Article ON FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 8 →
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On Freemasonry.
the remaining two tribes , adhered stedfastly to Rehoboam , the son of Solomon . Thus were founded the two separate and independent kingdoms of Israel and Judah . Jeroboam , perceiving the ascendancy which he possessed over the minds of the people , determined to unite the priestly and the royal
dignity in his own person ; and pretending to be under an apprehension lest the annual worship at the Temple of Jerusalem , at which his subjects were bound to be present , should in process of time alienate the affections of the people , and reunite the two kingdoms , he changed the forms and ceremoniesand with them the essence of their
reli-, gion ; and erected at each extremity of his dominions idols of gold , representing the imaginary cherub , or , more properly , the Egyptian Apis , in which country he had received his education ; and these idols he commanded his subjects to worship , under the imposing appellation ofthe gods who had delivered their forefathers from Egyptian bondage .
To this new relig ion he attached the mysteries of Isis , and constituted himself the Hierophant of the orgies , and tlie high priest of religion . The wisest and best of his subjects , grieved to behold the
Avorshi p of the Creator changed for that of the creature , and the substance of Masonry bartered for the shadow , deliberated in their lodges on the proper line of conduct to be adopted in this extremity . If they continued in their allegiance to Jeroboam , they must sacrifice their most valuable privileges in this world , and all their hopes in futurity
on an idolatrous altar ; and if they refused obedience to the king's commandment , they would be stigmatized as rebels , and perhaps be punished as traitors to their country . At length great numbers of them , including many priests and Levites , determined to return to Jerusalem , and place themselves under the protection of Rehoboam , that they might enjov the advantages of true worship and genuine Masonry ,
and avoid the pollutions of Egyptian idolatry , sanctified by profane rites and mysterious observances . But events , which they could neither foresee nor prevent , denied them the enjoyment of these highly valued privileges . Rehoboam also apostatized from the true religion , and God brought the King of Egypt upon himwho took
, Jerusalem , and plundered the Temple of all the riches with which his father had adorned it . Thus the kings of both these nations , which had been separated from the rest ol mankind for the preservation of the true religion , had
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry.
the remaining two tribes , adhered stedfastly to Rehoboam , the son of Solomon . Thus were founded the two separate and independent kingdoms of Israel and Judah . Jeroboam , perceiving the ascendancy which he possessed over the minds of the people , determined to unite the priestly and the royal
dignity in his own person ; and pretending to be under an apprehension lest the annual worship at the Temple of Jerusalem , at which his subjects were bound to be present , should in process of time alienate the affections of the people , and reunite the two kingdoms , he changed the forms and ceremoniesand with them the essence of their
reli-, gion ; and erected at each extremity of his dominions idols of gold , representing the imaginary cherub , or , more properly , the Egyptian Apis , in which country he had received his education ; and these idols he commanded his subjects to worship , under the imposing appellation ofthe gods who had delivered their forefathers from Egyptian bondage .
To this new relig ion he attached the mysteries of Isis , and constituted himself the Hierophant of the orgies , and tlie high priest of religion . The wisest and best of his subjects , grieved to behold the
Avorshi p of the Creator changed for that of the creature , and the substance of Masonry bartered for the shadow , deliberated in their lodges on the proper line of conduct to be adopted in this extremity . If they continued in their allegiance to Jeroboam , they must sacrifice their most valuable privileges in this world , and all their hopes in futurity
on an idolatrous altar ; and if they refused obedience to the king's commandment , they would be stigmatized as rebels , and perhaps be punished as traitors to their country . At length great numbers of them , including many priests and Levites , determined to return to Jerusalem , and place themselves under the protection of Rehoboam , that they might enjov the advantages of true worship and genuine Masonry ,
and avoid the pollutions of Egyptian idolatry , sanctified by profane rites and mysterious observances . But events , which they could neither foresee nor prevent , denied them the enjoyment of these highly valued privileges . Rehoboam also apostatized from the true religion , and God brought the King of Egypt upon himwho took
, Jerusalem , and plundered the Temple of all the riches with which his father had adorned it . Thus the kings of both these nations , which had been separated from the rest ol mankind for the preservation of the true religion , had